Belt.



PATENTED MAY 14, 1907.

w; L. OFFBNBAGHER.

BELT. I APPLICATION rum) SEPT,24,1906.

Z/Jillzml. 0/}??? az/rar 7H: NORRIS PETERS cm, wasumnron, n r:

WILLIAM OFFENBACHER, OF ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

BELT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed September 24. 1906. Serial No. 335,848.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. OFFEN- BAOHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Zanesville, in the county of Muskingum and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Belts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to belts and has for its object the provision of a device of this character which when worn by men, renders it possible to effectually maintain the trousers in position without the use of suspenders, which are unsightly when a coat is not worn.

Further objects and advantages of the in vention will be set forth in the detailed description which now follows.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a belt constructed in accordance with the invention, and, Fig. 2 is an1 enlarged section through one side of said be t.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that this belt comprises an inner thickness of cloth 5 and an outer thickness of cloth 6. Located between these thicknesses and spaced apart at regular intervals by stitching 6 are stiffening strips 7, the body portions of which conform to the figure of the wearer and the lower ends of which are outturned as at 8. These stifiening strips are preferably metallic, though this is not essential. Since the cloth which covers these strips, extends from one of said strips to the other entirely around the belt, the result of thus outturning the lower ends of these stiffening strips is to form what is substantially an outwardly flaring annular flange of fabric which is stifiened and supported at intervals by the stiff' ening strips 7. Buckles 9 and straps 10 provide efficient fastening devices for securing the belt about the person of the wearer, but 't is to be understood that other forms of fasening devices may be substituted for these uckles and straps, if desired.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The belt having been secured about the waist of the wearer beneath the shirt, which is indicated at 11 in Fig. 2, when the waist band of the trousersindicated at 12, is secured about the wearer, the outturned lower ends of the stiffening strips and the outturned lower edge of the belt engages said waist band as illustrated in Fig. 2 and effectually supports the trousers without the use of suspenders. I

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that simple and efficient means are herein provided for accomplishing the objects of the invention, but While the elements shown and described are well adapted to serve the purposes for which they are intended, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, but includes within its purview such changes as may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What I clalm, is:

1. A belt of yielding material having a series of stiffening strips carried thereby, the lower ends of sald stiffening strips being outturned.

2. The combination with a belt of flexible material, of a plurality of stiffening strips located at intervals about said belt, the lower ends of said stiffening strips being outturned and the fabric of the belt extending from the outturned ends of one of said strips to the outturnedfends of adjacent strips to thereby form an outturned annular portion around the belt.

3. A belt comprising an inner thickness of cloth and an outer thickness of cloth, and a plurality of stifiening strips located between said thicknesses of cloth and spaced apart, the lower ends of said stiffening strips being outturned as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. OFFENBAOHER. Witnesses:

FRANK G. CAMPBELL, A. L. PHELPS; 

